MY SUCCESS STORY – OUR CLIENTS STORIES

A year ago, today, I did not think my life would be like this. I was preparing to move into Cannon Kirk, which is where I thought I would live forever, and I thought I would never find someone, or feel the way I do now.    I was incredibly shy moving in and did not really know what it would look like. The staff did not give up on me, and helped me to trust them, even if that was the manager being really silly as we queued for Sainsburys during lockdown! I soon learned to trust them, and I had a safety net when I needed them, which soon lead to me stopping (mostly) hurting myself and finding different ways of managing my mood. I am so much happier now.    The staff at Cannon Kirk are very supportive and helpful, the managers clearly want to be in the job, I can tell. The support that I have had here has changed my life and helped me be able to move on, because without you guys, I probably would not still be here. I want to say Thank You to Charlotte in particular, who always picked up the phone, no matter what time of day I needed her (even if she was then grouchy the next day with no sleep!)    So this weekend I am picking up the keys to my own flat, with my Fiancé, and wedding planning is under way! I’ve promised the Cannon Kirk Staff I’ll invite them, especially Shereen and Charlotte as they already have their hats!!!        consent given to publish

13 Weeks ago, these ladies had their normal routine disrupted which they have found to be difficult. They went from visiting the community daily to having to learn about the reason behind the lockdown Covid-19.  For any clients with disabilities a change in their routine can cause for a deterioration within their mental health however we managed to find a way to prevent this from happening and this was with PE with Joe Wicks.  Joe Wicks – The online body coach started completing daily workouts in the morning from 9 am live through Facebook and YouTube. At the beginning when we implemented this the clients were not sure however, with encouragement from the staff they started completing the workouts.  At first, it was once or twice a week and by the third week they completed the whole 5 days, and this has continued for 13 WEEKS.  They found that not only did this help with their mental health but also supported them with their healthy living, as they managed to adopt a diet plan with the support from staff.  To mark their achievement, we congratulated them and presented a certificate which they are extremely happy with.  We are immensely proud of them and mainly and most importantly, they are proud of themselves.  We owe Joe Wicks, a big thank you for giving up his time during the lockdown, and shout out a massive well done to these ladies.  The morning work outs have become part of our everyday living, and we will continue to follow this on.     

Well done to Natasha, Susan and Deepa we are very proud of you ladies 😊

K is a 35 year old with a history of schizophrenia who moved into Claremont House in 2015. Previously, K would often be found begging for money on the streets and repeatedly found himself in trouble with the Police  When he first moved into Claremont House, K isolated himself in his flat and lacked any kind of motivation to do anything outside and just wanted to be left on his own.  All he wanted to do was sit around or sleep all day long.  Through daily support and regular one to one key working sessions, the support staff worked with K to change his isolating behaviour and re-socialise him.  Developing a relationship with K and building trust was paramount.  Smart goal and task setting was a big part of these key working sessions and K was soon cleaning his own flat, budgeting his own money and shopping with support.  K’s Dad had previously been his financial appointee, as K was unable to manage his own finances due to bad gambling habits in the past. But with support, K learnt how to manage his own money. K was coming out of his shell and growing in confidence, day by day.  By 2016, K expressed an interest in becoming a DJ/ Rapper and to enable him to achieve this ambition, K   completed several music and computer courses at the City Literary Institute in Holborn. He was now able to use his newfound skills to entertain the staff team and the residents at Claremont House, and would regularly brighten up the day with his unique style of rap music.  K also wanted to start playing football again, and so was introduced to the Leyton Orient FC foundation, which organised a program of football coaching and training sessions locally.  K is a very good footballer and was soon selected to represent the Leyton Orient Foundation team. Every week, K would travel independently to train and play in matches against other foundation teams.   By Christmas 2016, K’s confidence and independent living skills had developed to such an extent, that he was able to travel on his own to visit his family in Jamaica. K enjoyed his first holiday for many years and was able spent both Christmas and New Year with his family.  With the support of Claremont House, K has worked very hard and managed to completely turn his life around.  In May 2017, K was able to move out of Claremont House and into his very own flat nearby. K receives a minimal amount of floating support and he now manages to shop, cook, clean his flat and budget independently. He is now now completely in control of his own finances.  K’s mental health has greatly improved and he no longer requires anti-psychotic Depot injections, but instead manages to administer his own tablet medication.  K is very content with his life and still plays football regularly, and enjoys being a DJ and making rap music.  The bonds and friendships built up at Claremont House still continue to this day, as K visits the scheme every fortnight. He will pop in for a cup of tea and a catch up, and will then invariably entertain staff and residents with one of his latest rap music creations.. just like old times

S is a 35-year-old Chinese woman with Learning Disabilities and challenging behaviour. At a young age, S was adopted by an English family and lived at the family home until 2013, when S’s care and support needs became too much for her family to manage.   After a short spell in a secure hospital, S moved into Claremont House in 2014. When she first arrived, her personal care and support needs were very substantial, as S was doubly incontinent and needed 24 hour, one to one support with all her personal care and daily living needs. Even at meal times S needed very close monitoring, as she would try to eat all her food erratically fast and was therefore at a constant risk of choking.   S also suffered with debilitating panic attacks and had a particular fear of heights. This meant that she was unable to go up or down stairs without constant one to one reassurance and support. On the stairs, S would often be frozen by her fear and was unable to move at all.   Whenever S felt very anxious or fearful, she would persistently scratch and pick at her own skin, especially on her hands, arms and face. This left her with many small, open wounds and these were obviously at risk of infection.   S also refused to work with female members of staff at Claremont House and would only co-operate with the male staff members. With personal care, this was difficult.  After months of regular key working sessions and by close joint working with Community Psychiatrists and specialist Nurses, S gradually became less and less anxious and her panic attacks started to subside.  By 2015, there was no need for incontinence pads, as after persistent training, S was now able to toilet herself, even throughout the night.  And by building up her trust, she would now also allow a female staff member to support her with personal care needs, and have a male staff member as her key worker for the rest of the time.   By ensuring S was active and occupied throughout the day, there was also a noticeable reduction in her self harming behaviour. The picking and scratching at her skin gradually stopped and S’s wounds started to heal.  By 2016, the one to one support was also having a positive effect on S’s chronic fear of stairs and heights. When S was with staff at the Westfield shopping centre, she was able to use the escalators for the first time. S now has no problem with stairs and no fear of heights. She has even managed to go horse riding and was able to sit high up on a very big horse.  S’s confidence outside of the scheme has grown immensely, and as a result she has been able to go out bowling, to the cinema and on country walks. S has also recently completed several courses at the Waltham Forest Learning Centre in Art, Computing and Gardening.   S’s family have always been very close to her and they have always been actively involved in her care. S has made such fantastic progress at Claremont House, that she is now able to join her family for holidays in Cornwall and also can spend time with them over the Christmas period. S’s fear and anxiety is under control and she is now able to live a full and active life.  

K is an 84-year-old Scottish man who has struggled with an alcohol-induced dementia for many years. During his working life, K was a very accomplished cartoonist and for many years was a Director of his own illustration company. Many of his cartoons have featured in our national newspapers and in other popular publications.  Following the death of his wife, K found life extremely hard, and due to his alcoholism and dementia, soon found himself sleeping rough on London streets. K was so disorientated that he slept rough wherever he found himself, and this was taking a great toll on his health and wellbeing.  In 2009, K moved into Sylvester House and with the intensive support of the staff team was weaned off his alcohol addiction within three months. K was accompanied and socialised into the Hackney art community, and soon he was purchasing art supplies and equipment, and drawing again.  His lifelong passion for his art has been truly rediscovered at Sylvester House and K now creates his illustrations using specialist software on his own Apple iMac computer.  K had often slept rough on the streets in the past due to being so disorientated by his alcoholism and dementia, and would therefore end up sleeping wherever he found himself.  To combat this, the Sylvester House staff team fitted K with a Google tracker, which he wears over his shoulder, and also purchased a mobile phone for him. K is now able to venture out into the community on his own.  Staff can track and locate his whereabouts and contact him if ever he needs guidance or help getting home. This tracking system has allowed K to maintain his independence but in a safe and secure way.  By 2012, K had not seen or visited his family in Scotland for over 25 years and a reunion was long overdue and much needed. To resolve this, the senior management at Angel Supported Living arranged a very special Christmas surprise for K and his family in Scotland. The Sylvester House manager, drove K all the way from London to his family home in Scotland, arriving on Christmas Day. With his family gathered, K surprised them at the doorstep. They were all so surprised and very happy to be reunited as a family again.  K had the most wonderful Christmas day and was also invited to stay overnight, spending Boxing Day with his family.  Enjoying his first family Christmas for over 25 years, K was so happy and could not stop talking about it on the long drive home. Nizaal and his wife are now looking forward to returning to Scotland with K in the not so distant future.  His family were all so happy to see K after so many years apart and strong family bonds were renewed. As a result of this Christmas surprise trip, his niece has become a big part of his life and K and his niece are regularly in contact and she visits K at Sylvester House regularly.  In July 2017, K was part of the Sylvester House holiday to Newquay in Cornwall and he enjoyed himself immensely, especially on the boat trips and picnics. K would be seen sitting and peacefully sketching the beautiful Cornish scenery around him.